How to Be a Film Director

The question on everybody’s lips these days is how to be a film director? The reality is that getting a film job is not as hard as one might think. It may require some experience, but it can also be a lot of fun. If you are looking to get into the film industry, here are three tips to help you learn how to be a film director.

Firstly, if you do not already know how to write a script (it is very important), you need to know how to write a spec script. This is basically a movie treatment or outline of what your film will look like. Screenplays should be interesting and engaging for a viewer to follow. If you don’t know how to write a spec script, ask somebody who does.

Next, you should decide whether you want to shoot on location (or make up locations) or use a green screen. A green screen is essentially a sheet of cardboard with digitalized images of different locations designed to resemble an actual film set. This is great if you are making a low budget film that you want to try and emulate as closely as possible. However, it is significantly less expensive than hiring a crew to physically set up sets and backgrounds. In fact, it is the most cost effective way to film a film.

When you have decided on the type of film that you want to make, the next step in how to be a film director is to find a casting call for your city or area. Find out when they say they are open, what they look like, and how long they are going to be available. Usually they will post their openings online. If you are looking to work locally, try to find out what the opening is for the city that you are interested in. Some cities just have open casting calls occasionally, so make sure to check when they are in your city.

Once you know the date of the open casting call for your area, the next step is to learn about film school. Even if you have worked in the industry before, some knowledge of it is vital. Some casting directors actually prefer to hand pick their talent this way, and may even ask you to take a writing test or submit a short script sample before they hire you.

Once you know what you need to know about film school, you can start applying. Some casting directors may want to meet you in person to further evaluate you. However, the vast majority will not require face to face meetings. After you complete your application, you should receive a call or e-mail asking you to meet somewhere in the near future. It’s best to be prepared when you get this call.